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The Best Backyard BBQ: How to Throw the Perfect Outdoor Celebration

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The kids might be back in school, the weather might be getting chilly, and the leaves might be slowly turning yellow, but that doesn’t mean that BBQ season is over. In fact, some would say that early fall is the perfect time to throw the ultimate outdoor party!

But what is it that makes a BBQ “the ultimate outdoor party”? Is it the food? The entertainment? The company? Yes, yes, and yes! Here are a few quick tips that will help you throw the kind of cookout the neighbors will rave about for years to come.

Get Good Meat

There’s a reason why we call cookouts “BBQs”: these parties live or die by the meat you serve. Make sure you purchase some quality meat ahead of time and make sure you’ve got someone nearby who knows how to cook it. Not only will the main course taste better, but you’ll also be able to avoid some major safety hazards!

Of course, you can’t just serve meat at your BBQ (although that does sound like heaven). Make sure you have a few tasty side dishes ready to go along with your cow, pig, or chicken. Even if you’re having a potluck, make sure to prepare at least one side yourself, as this will ensure you have enough for all your guests (and probably leftovers — yum!).

Keep That Pool Open

A lot of folks seem to think that September first is “National Close the Pool Day.” They put on the winter cover, lock the pool fence, and wash their hands of it until May rolls around. But come on, y’all — you know just as well as I do that September can be just as hot as Mid-July.

If you keep the pool open just a little longer this year, you’ll be able to entertain your guests more easily at your cookout. Just make sure you have a designated adult watching the pool at all times.

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Dress up Your Yard

You usually clean up your house before having any company, right? Well, the same rule applies before having a cookout! Your yard needs to be dressed to impress a crowd. Trim any bushes, pull the weeds in your flower beds, and make sure your lawn is still looking fresh despite the coming autumn.

If you plan to continue your BBQ well into the night, you’ll need to outfit your yard with appropriate lighting to help set the mood. Consider stringing up some LED neon lights or adding solar lamps on your patio furniture. These will help your guests hang around even longer and keep the party going.

Invite Everyone!

Once you’ve taken all these steps, there’s really only one thing left to do: invite your friends, family, and neighbors to your incredible cookout! If your place looks great, your food is good (and there’s enough of it), and there’s plenty of entertainment, you’re just about guaranteed the perfect backyard BBQ.

8 Spring Renovations to Uplift Your Mood

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Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/bouquet-flowers-garden-3874595/

Spring is a time for new beginnings, and there’s no better way to feel like you’ve got a fresh start than a home renovation. Applying cosmetic and structural changes to your home can completely reinvent how you feel about and use a space. Whether you’re interested in getting more natural light or brightening the room with a splash of color, there are plenty of creative options in your price range to explore.

DIY projects aren’t always the most feasible approach to renovations, but they can be the most cost-effective. If any of these spring renovations sound like something you want to take on yourself, remember to follow our guide on steps to take before getting started on your first renovation. Be safe, and make sure you have an educational resource detailing how to operate and troubleshoot your tools for the task.

1.     Try A New Look with Interior and Exterior Painting

Most people incorporate pops of color into a living space through thoughtful furnishing, but if you’re looking to really switch up your decor, repainting the interior of your home is the next step. Consider an accent wall in your favorite color to add depth to a neutral room or unify the furniture with the rest of the decor. Repainting your home’s faded exterior or giving it a completely new look with a different color is also a great way to renovate your home this spring while also improving curbside appeal.

2.     Reinvent Your Backyard With a Deck

Just because it isn’t barbeque season doesn’t mean you can’t get started on summer backyard improvements like building a deck. Decks allow you to extend your living space and utilize your backyard. Adding light fixtures and outdoor furniture can further transform your deck into a great place for friends and family to gather during summer evenings.

Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/wooden-wood-house-architecture-3346929/

3.     Improve the View With a Landscape Makeover

Creative landscaping around your home is about more than keeping your front and backyard looking sharp; it turns your yard into something you can enjoy. If winter has left your lawn looking worse for wear, spring is your chance to redesign your backyard. Planting a vegetable garden, growing unique flower beds, or creating a path with stepping stones are some of the simple landscaping renovations you can do for spring. Fountains and greenhouses require a little extra work, but having a focal point like a beautiful water feature can add a touch of style and class to any yard.

4.     Prepare for Pool Party Season

It may not be warm enough to swim, but that shouldn’t stop you from getting ready for pool party season. Installing a pool in spring gives you time to get everything ready for guests looking to cool off on the hot days to come. Homeowners who are willing to invest in a pool can not only increase the value of their home but also turn their backyards into a stylish paradise everyone can enjoy.

5.     Update Your Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home for many. It is arguably one of the most important spaces in your house, which means having a functional kitchen that meets your needs is essential. If your kitchen is too small, consider exploring new storage solutions or renovating it with an open floor plan. Custom lighting can personalize the space according to your needs and tastes, turning your kitchen from plain and practical to warm and welcoming.

Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/solar-panel-array-roof-building-1794514/

6.     Save By Going Green

Many of our suggestions so far have come with sliding scales when it comes to costs, but what about a renovation that saves you money and helps the planet? It’s becoming more and more common to spot houses with solar panels on the roof as people learn about green energy. Other effective eco-friendly changes you can make for your home include water-efficient plumbing or energy-saving insulation and lighting. Even just switching the bulbs in your house to LEDs can reduce your electricity bill, keeping your house and future bright.

7.     Add Sunshine to Your Day With Skylights

Speaking of energy efficiency, opening up your home to more natural light can make you less reliant on interior fixtures. Skylights act like an additional window and can make any room feel cozier by filling it with sunshine. If you have a green thumb, your indoor plants will also love an additional light source as they grow.  Skylights are also great for those of us who enjoy rainy spring days. Nothing beats curling up on the couch with a book and being able to glance up to watch rain clouds as they pass overhead.

Original image can be found at: https://pixabay.com/photos/tools-workshop-equipment-690038/

8.     Take Back Your Garage

Garages are one of the first places we think of when odds and ends pile up and need somewhere else to go. Waking up one day and realizing your garage is a maze of boxes can happen to anyone without notice. Following popular spring cleaning tips and going through what we’ve managed to accumulate over the years may be intimidating at first, but it can also be just as rewarding.

Once you’ve decluttered and freed up space in your garage, the possibilities are endless. It can become an additional space for your family to enjoy, an in-home gym, or the much-needed workspace you’ve been looking for. Turn your garage into a workshop haven for heirloom tools or a playground as an auto hobbyist.

Whether it’s a DIY affair or sitting back while the professionals get to work, these spring renovations can rejuvenate your house. Feel happier and more at ease when you turn any space into a home through renovations of any size, cost, and complexity.

Summer Backyard Home Improvements

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Home improvements are always fun tasks. Even though they take some of your time and money, you always know that you’re putting these resources to good use. The particularly fun activities are the ones that include improving your backyard. If you already like spending time in your backyard, but you want to make it even more enjoyable, there are a lot of things that you can do to achieve that. Namely, there is a long list of summer backyard improvements that will make your backyard look and feel much better.

Add a patio

A patio or a deck is always a good idea, especially if you plan on spending a lot of time in your backyard. Besides bringing the special appeal to your home, the patio also helps you extend the living area. If you live in s small house that usually feels cramped, the patio is the thing you need. The patio also makes a great space for the outdoor furniture and it makes your home seem larger.

With a brand new patio, you’ll create a space for endless entertainment during the whole summer. You’ll have a space for family get-togethers and both kids and adults will adore it. Finally, the best thing about a patio is that it requires zero maintenance. Besides occasional sweeping, you won’t have a lot to do when it comes to maintaining your patio.

Build an outdoor kitchen

Outdoor kitchens have been very popular over the recent years. They are the real game-changers and they make your backyard more enjoyable and luxurious. Even though an outdoor kitchen is a huge investment, it does pay off. If you like spending time outside with your friends and family, an outdoor kitchen will do a lot to make these gatherings even more interesting.

When building an outdoor kitchen, you should pay special attention to space. Since the kitchen will take up a lot of space, you should think well where and how you would build it. You should also consider the architectural style of your home. If you want the kitchen to fit in, you should build it in such a way that it looks well with the rest of the exterior.

Work on the lighting

One of the things that can transform any space in no time is the lighting. Lighting, besides being a rapid way to bring a change, is also an inexpensive way to do so. Since hot summer nights suggest that you are going to spend more and more time outside, you’ll want to have the backyard properly illuminated. With some decorative outdoor lighting, you can make a serious change.

You don’t have to host gatherings during the day only. If you choose to do it by night too, you’ll be amazed once you see what difference in the atmosphere the lighting can make. Having experts help you with the lighting is an even better idea. For instance, professional electrical services are irreplaceable when it comes to switching to LED lighting. Once you step up your lighting game, you’ll add a new touch of style to your backyard.

Install a pool

The pool is by far one of the best things you can invest in. Besides being a ton of fun, the pool is also a sign of class and style. Even though the pool requires high maintenance, it still is a great investment. If you can’t bear the hot summer days, a brand new pool might be very helpful.

The heat in the summer can become unbearable and having a chance to escape from it is priceless. That is why the pool is such an amazing investment. Having a pool means having an opportunity to relax, exercise, or just have fun. Besides all that, the pool increases the value of your home.

Hang a hammock

If you’re looking for a simpler and quicker change in your backyard, you can just hang a hammock. It’ll cost nothing and you’ll get a perfect spot for relaxing, reading a book, or napping in your backyard.

All you need for this to happen are a couple of trees. However, even you don’t have those, you shouldn’t despair. You can purchase a tree with a base, that will be the perfect setup for the hammock.

Plant trees

Finally, the easiest way to improve your backyard is to plant some trees. Trees and shrubs will make your backyard seem more natural, graceful, and harmonious.

To avoid overwhelming the yard, you should be careful about the amount of the trees and shrubbery you’re about to plant. You can choose your favourite trees and strategically place them all over the yard. Even though that’ll be a simple change, it’ll still be very important and it’ll shed new light on your backyard.

Conclusion

Making small improvements around the house helps you bring value to your home and make your home a more enjoyable space for you and your family. With these changes, you’ll treat your backyard as well and make the best possible space for the summer.

How to Transform Your Outdoor Space for Entertaining

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Image Source: Unsplash

Make the most of the great outdoors and turn your outdoor space into a retreat. Create the ultimate space for relaxing, entertaining and occupying the kids with these great ideas.

Make a fire pit

What’s not to love about roasting marshmallows by the fire? Enjoy this ultimate family-bonding activity by spending nights by the fire. You’ll be able to enjoy the fire and keep warm – even during the wintertime.

Spruce up your space with a fire pit centrepiece. Buy one ready-made or make your own in a few hours with pavers and concrete. Build a bench around the fire pit piled with cushions for that campfire feel or surround the fire with outdoor deck chairs.

Create a play area

Keep the kids entertained for hours on end with a dedicated play area. A swing set, slide and trampoline are popular ideas to turn your garden into a kid’s paradise. On the creative side, you could set up an outdoor crafts area. Or bring the beach to you in Summer by creating a sandpit alongside a kids paddle pool. Continue the beach feel with a hammock strung between two palm trees.

Plant a vegetable garden

Growing your own edible garden is incredibly rewarding. It’s also a great hobby for the kids and a great way to teach them about sustainability.

Rhubarb, rosemary and tomatoes are amongst the easiest plants to grow. They are great options to start with if you’re not already a gardening guru.

Consider a net to keep the birds from eating your hard-earned produce.

Image Source: Unsplash

Install a pool or a spa pool

Take the plunge and add a swimming pool to your house. Not only will it add value to your home, but the number of summer memories will be priceless.

If space is a problem or you’d prefer a place to relax, consider a spa pool. This is a cheaper option compared to the pool, and you could use it year-round, even when it’s sub-zero outside.

Provide comfortable seating

Create a comfortable outdoor area you actually want to spend time in. There are endless options for comfortable seating, including sofas, loungers and dining sets.

If you love to entertain but are pushed for space, consider a colourful set of stacking chairs. This lets you add a pop of colour to your backyard but still have the freedom to store them away easily when needed.

Set up an outdoor kitchen

The outdoor kitchen is an up-and-coming trend perfect for entertainers and socialites.

Clear a patio area for a BBQ and ample bench space for preparation. Set up an outdoor fridge for a mini-bar and even consider a wood-fired pizza oven. Don’t miss out on enjoying the outdoors when you’re cooking. Instead, be in the centre of the action in your outdoor kitchen.

Image Source: Pxhere

 Fix large doors

Great indoor-outdoor flow is a must-have for many homeowners. Treat your garden area as an extension of your living area.

The easiest way to create this indoor-outdoor flow is through large doors. Choose from the many options including folding, bi-folding, French, retractable and sliding doors. To completely open up your home to the great outdoors, consider fitting sliding doors on two perpendicular walls.

Put up outdoor lighting

String lights will transform your outdoor space into an enchanted garden. Drive out the darkness with this elegant touch. Hang them near your outdoor dining area for late-night dinner parties or near your lounging area where you can curl up with a blanket and a good book.

Refreshing and updating your outdoor space can be tailored to suit all budgets. It can be as simple and effortless as adding string lights to the patio area or as extravagant as building a poolside slice of paradise. It’s up to you to choose what works best for your home.

Author bio:

Alex Cordier is a freelance writer from Auckland, New Zealand. When she’s not busy writing articles for various blogs, you can find her traveling or reading on the beach. To learn more about her, visit her personal blog.